As the series limps to finish its debut, unrequited love leads to grudging friendship. Well, this form has worked everywhere from Shakespeare to Peanuts, and it works adequately here, as Lwaxana's crush arcs from comical to poignant.
Odo's gruff facade would attract the occasional female, like it or not, and Lwaxana Troi is not one easily discouraged. In being sex-positive, she'd be frankly intrigued by the alien, although the script settles for the psychological. Whereas Odo struggles with an identity crisis, Lwaxana sees a man who can mold himself, not requiring a woman to do so.
Odo's side of the encounter is also well-written. When he references the Bajoran who'd "been assigned to him," it's a clue Rene Auberjonois is actually playing Star Trek's version of Frankenstein's monster.
Nepotism isn't all bad, being the source of Roddenberry's wife's change-of-pace visits as Lwaxana Troi, mother of Deanna, holder of the sacred chalice (etc.), otherwise known as "the Auntie Mame of the galaxy." As with John DeLancie, Barrett's technical style is a bit dated, but more than offset by the larger-than-life role in a fantasy context.
In the B-plot, Chief O'Brien struggles with the disruptions of a computer life form, finally adopting it like a lost puppy. This is self-recycling; see also "The Changeling," Star Trek -- The Motion Picture, and TNG: "The Quality of Life." In "The Forsaken" the A.I. is unseen, thus particularly hard to dramatize; see also The Net and Firewall.
The episode seems indecisive as to whether B-story connects to A: did "the pup" want Odo confined with Lwaxana? Finally, it may've worked better with the pup imprinting on Sisko, in that the commander spends the first two acts, rather smugly, having his team run interference.
** Lwaxana's presence may've evoked the B-plot, if the writers saw the 1974 animated episode in which the Enterprise computer is "The Practical Joker." As always, that computer was voiced by Majel Barrett. **
Odo's side of the encounter is also well-written. When he references the Bajoran who'd "been assigned to him," it's a clue Rene Auberjonois is actually playing Star Trek's version of Frankenstein's monster.
Nepotism isn't all bad, being the source of Roddenberry's wife's change-of-pace visits as Lwaxana Troi, mother of Deanna, holder of the sacred chalice (etc.), otherwise known as "the Auntie Mame of the galaxy." As with John DeLancie, Barrett's technical style is a bit dated, but more than offset by the larger-than-life role in a fantasy context.
In the B-plot, Chief O'Brien struggles with the disruptions of a computer life form, finally adopting it like a lost puppy. This is self-recycling; see also "The Changeling," Star Trek -- The Motion Picture, and TNG: "The Quality of Life." In "The Forsaken" the A.I. is unseen, thus particularly hard to dramatize; see also The Net and Firewall.
The episode seems indecisive as to whether B-story connects to A: did "the pup" want Odo confined with Lwaxana? Finally, it may've worked better with the pup imprinting on Sisko, in that the commander spends the first two acts, rather smugly, having his team run interference.
** Lwaxana's presence may've evoked the B-plot, if the writers saw the 1974 animated episode in which the Enterprise computer is "The Practical Joker." As always, that computer was voiced by Majel Barrett. **
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